The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a giant mistake by deciding to waive Brooks Laich before he was given a chance to really help.
On Sunday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs were in a box, watching the Blue Jays in their stunning win over the Rangers. Brooks Laich was among these players, even after Toronto placed him on waivers.
Laich cleared Monday afternoon and remains on the roster, but always has the chance of being demoted to the AHL. Though the 33-year-old has been on the decline, Toronto shouldn’t be so quick to send him to the minors.
Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek explained that Laich’s cut could have a negative impact on the team this season. It looks as if Toronto is relying on youth, and their inexperience and development could mean another poor season. The team will fail, and spend another year in the basement.
No NHL team can depend solely on young players. We have seen this many times, especially with the Edmonton Oilers. Teams that have placed all of their hopes and pressure on the shoulders of rookies and young guns, things become chaotic. The young players had too high of expectations, and in the end, could not develop properly or help the team.
Laich exemplifies leadership, and is one of the strongest voices in the locker room. Many thought that he had a chance of earning the captaincy in Toronto, and in the end, that is a player the Maple Leafs need. Having a positive voice in the locker room, as well as a leader on and off the ice, can give the younger guys a role model to look up to.
In fact, Laich talked to the “Toronto Sun” about leading the youth on the team, as he is the oldest player.
"…”These young guys will have many voices in their ears, telling them what they did right, what they did wrong and what they can do better. My job is just to make them feel like they’re at home, and to get to know them personally…” -Brooks Laich"
While Toronto is trying to make the team younger, cutting Laich is not the answer. He’s a stable forward who can provide depth and grit on the bottom-six. He creates scoring chances and can also set his teammates up; he finished last season with 14 points (two goals, 12 assists), which are decent numbers for a fourth-line centre.
In the end, no one claimed Laich, let alone his hefty $4.5 million salary. For now, he keeps his spot in the NHL, which would be the best option for Toronto moving forward. Having a veteran leader fill out the bottom-six isn’t the end of the world. Especially given that he has more experience and can serve as a role model on and off the ice.
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